Longtime Iranian television producer gets jail sentence

Mostafa Azizi, the Iranian television producer who has been jailed in Iran since February, has been sentenced to eight years in jail. News of Azizi's sentence was confirmed on the Facebook page of his son, Arash Azizi.

Mostafa Azizi

Mostafa Azizi is reportedly charged with "assembly and collusion against national security, acting against national security and insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic".

His trial was held on June 1 before Judge Salavati and, according to Arash Azizi, his father will appeal the sentence.

Azizi has reportedly spent one month of his arrest in solitary confinement in the Revolutionary Guards ward of Evin Prison.

Azizi started as a writer and producer of science and educational programs for Iran's national radio in 1986. Four years later, he moved to the Seda va Sima national television broadcaster, working on animation and other productions.

Azizi is a resident of Canada and was arrested one month after returning to Iran for a visit.